Google has promised continued support to Android handset makers embroiled in ongoing patent disputes, and looks to reassure alliances with Asian vendors as the mobile OS space become increasingly competitive.

At the end of a three-city tour of Asia on Wednesday, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt met with major Android vendors, saying that his company would support them as worldwide patent disputes against Apple continue, reports Reuters.

"We tell our partners, including the ones here in Taiwan, we will support them. For example we have been supporting HTC in its dispute with Apple because we think that the Apple thing is not correct," Schmidt said.

The Google executive said that his company is sharing information, industry expertise and access to Google's patents for licensing and legal purposes. Korea's Samsung and Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC are both involved in ongoing patent disputes surrounding Android, which late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs thought of as a "stolen product."

The iPhone maker has been aggressive in seeking injunctions for devices they believe infringe on their patents. Recently Apple was awarded the touchscreen slide-to-unlock gesture patent, which Taiwanese officials claim will hurt the smartphone market.

In addition to offering support to embattled Android licensees, Schmidt met with Samsung, the largest maker of Android handsets in the world, and LG Electronics. The visit comes as Asian handset makers prepare to release new phones running on Microsoft's Windows Phone platform, looking to diversify their Android-heavy product portfolios.

The move was seen by many as reassuring Google's alliances with handset makers in light of its recent Motorola Mobility Holdings acquisition.

The $12.5 billion purchase has raised concerns that the internet giant may become a bigger player in the mobile space, perhaps rivaling current Android licensees. Although the company already has the Google-branded Nexus smartphone line, it has relied on outsourcing the handset's hardware, the most recent going to Samsung with the Google Galaxy Nexus.

Schmidt also visited Beijing, possibly seeking reconciliation over past hacking and censorship disputes with China. Google closed its Chinese service last year due to censorship pressure from the region's government, and subsequently routing all traffic through Hong Kong. The company also claimed that China may have been responsible for an attack on its Gmail service in June, illiciting a backlash from Beijing.

Google is "still having a growing and profitable business in China," said Schmidt. He went on to say that the company "wanted to serve China's citizens within the limits the government allowed."

The Google executive said that his company is sharing information, industry expertise and access to Google's patents for licensing and legal purposes. Korea's Samsung and Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC are both involved in ongoing patent disputes surrounding Android, which late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs thought of as a "stolen product."

Notice that they said "support" and not "indemnify" or "defend". And given the specific support they claim that they will provide (above), it's a pretty lame example of support, anyway.

Microsoft will indemnify their licensees. Why won't Google? (Other than, of course, the obvious belief that they don't think they have a very strong position).

"I'm way over my head when it comes to technical issues like this"Gatorguy 5/31/13

This should go down well with the anti-competitive actions starting to take place in Europe and no doubt shortly to be followed by other places, as Android manufacturers seem to be intent on using FRAND patents to block Apple's sales.

Google is already under investigation for anti-competitive behaviour in several jurisdictions, these actions which appear to be bordering on the lines of organising a cartel to protect their ad revenue will add further fuel to the fire.

Google are becoming masters of doublespeak. their reality distortion field is strong.

So I wonder why Google isn't offering to pay Microsoft's Android licensing fees on behalf of the manufacturers or mounting legal action to protect them?

Better than my Bose, better than my Skullcandy's, listening to Mozart through my LeBron James limited edition PowerBeats by Dre is almost as good as my Sennheisers.

Google are becoming masters of doublespeak. their reality distortion field is strong.

So I wonder why Google isn't offering to pay Microsoft's Android licensing fees on behalf of the manufacturers or mounting legal action to protect them?

Obviously because your first paragraph is correct. Google is all about doublespeak. They talk about innovation when they best they can do is copy everyone else. They talk about intellectual property rights at the same time they're starting a program to copy every published work - without the author's permission. And now they'll talk about 'support' for licensees - which means nothing more than the possibility that they'll hire a cheerleader to stand in their lobby shouting "Go, Android, Go".

"I'm way over my head when it comes to technical issues like this"Gatorguy 5/31/13

I am aware of cognitive biases like confirmation bias - but DESPITE this, I GENUINELY find it difficult to understand why even Apple supporters would have trouble understanding that awarding patents for human gestures for, say, 15-20 years is anti-competitive.